Seventeenth Annual Commonwealth Heroines of - Massachusetts - Mass.gov
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THE MASSACHUSETTS COMMISSION ON
THE STATUS OF WOMEN
Seventeenth
Annual
JUNE 24, 2020
Commonwealth
Heroines of
Massachusetts
Please join us in celebrating the 2020
Commonwealth Heroines of
Massachusetts!
@MassCSW
#CHeroines2020
Thank You to Our Sponsors This 2020 Commonwealth Heroines virtual celebration would not be possible without our wonderful sponsors. We thank these exceptional businesses for their generosity and kind contribu- tions.
The MCSW is an independent state agency that was legislatively created in 1998 to ad-
vance women of the Commonwealth to full equality in all areas of life and to promote their
rights and opportunities. The Commission provides a voice for Massachusetts women and is
comprised of 19 members who are appointed by the Governor, Senate President, Speaker
of the House of Representatives, and the Caucus of Women Legislators.
Commissioners
MCSW Chair Denella Clark, Hyde Park
MCSW Vice Chair Rebecca Bact, Auburndale
Penny Blaisdell, Marblehead
Ruth Bramson, Boston
Jean Cotter Fox, Freetown
Marianne Fleckner, Westford
Liz Friedman, Northampton
Allison Goldberg, Marblehead
Audrey Hall, Framingham
Patricia Hohl, Framingham
Nina Kimball, Plymouth
Leslie-Ann McGee, Kingston
Maria Puppolo, Springfield
Marlene Sallo, Marina Bay
Sara Schnorr, Holliston
Shaitia Spruell, Clinton
Wendy Silver, Needham
Phyllis Smith, Franklin
Mary-dith Tuitt, Boston
Staff
Jill Ashton, Executive Director
Sasha Heggie-Jackson, Program Director
Mel Soto, Communications and Events Coordinator
Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women
Charles F. Hurley Building, 19 Staniford Street, 6th Floor
Boston, Massachusetts 02114
www.mass.gov/women
Greetings! This year, MCSW will hold the Seventeenth Annual Commonwealth Heroines cele- bration virtually. It is an honor for us to identify extraordinary women from across the Commonwealth and we sought to find ways within our capacity that would still allow us to do so in these unprecedented times. We would like to thank our many legislative partners who have recommended and recognized women within their district who perform unheralded acts daily that make our homes, neighborhoods, cities and towns better places to live. These acts of pub- lic leadership and volunteerism help advance the status of women and girls in Mas- sachusetts in ways big and small, and the collective effort is meaningful. The Commonwealth Heroines of 2020 are truly positive change makers. They may not always make the news, but they most assuredly make a difference. As you read through stories celebrating your fellow constituents, we know that you will be moved by all that is happening in our Commonwealth every day. While we understand that many of you may have wanted to celebrate in person, we encour- age you to connect with each other online with the hashtag #CHeroines2020 to con- gratulate one another and foster that same community that is cultivated every year at the Commonwealth Heroines celebration. Sincerely, The Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women
“They don’t always make the news,
but they truly make the difference.”
Elizabeth Almeida ● Anne Antonellis ● Magdalena Ayed ● Anne Bader-Martin ● Marilou Barsam ● Anne
Beauregard ● Cynthia Beckford Brewington ● Florence Bergmann ● Kathryn Bonfiglio ● Gail Boutiette ●
Alyzandra Brioso Vizcaino ● Barbara Buckley ● Courtney Cahill ● ● Peg Carbone ● Amy Cardoso ●
Deb Cary ● Tiffony Cesero ● Christine Chamberland ● Sophor Chhour ● Nanina Gaeta Coletta ●
Rhonda Garvin Conaway ● Mya Cook ● Deanna Cook ● Francine Coughlin ● Tracey Crago ● Jennifer
Marini D'Antonio ● Charan Devereaux ● Liz DiCarlo ● Lotte Diomede ● Donna DiVirgilio ● Paula Dubord
● Michelle Dunn ● Andrea Egmont ● Marie Enochty ● Marilyn Fitzgerald ● Estelle Flett ● Kathleen
Flynn ● Alexis Forgit ● Kristen Forsberg ● Julie Gage ● Catherine Gaudet ● Maureen Geary ●
Marge Ghilarducci ● Jacqueline Gillis ● Eileen Giordano ● Laurie Godwin ● Sara Hamerla ● Kristin
Harrison ● Emily Hedspeth ● Sue-Ellen Hershman-Tcherepnin ● Michaela Gagne Hetzler ● Joanne
Hillman ● Cheryl Holbert Millard ● Deirdre Holt ● Beth Huang ● Sachiko Isihara ● Maureen Johnson
● Cynthia A. Johnson ● Alyssa Jones ● Leah Caroline Jones ● Aleks Kajstura ● Meena Kaushik ●
Marie-Louise Kehoe ● Marcia Kimm-Jackson ● Cindy Kuenzler ● Loretta LaCentra ● Anne Larner ●
Marilyn Lee-Tom ● Mimi Lemay ● Nancy Stone Lennhoff ● Virginia Locke ● Kim Longey ● Michele
Marantz ● Hadassah Margolis ● Frances Martinez ● Katherine Martinez ● Mary Jane McGlennon ●
Siobhan McHugh ● Isaura Mendes ● Margaret Morrissey ● MaryBeth Murphy ● LaTonia Naylor ●
Gina Sabbs Nelson ● Anne Nemetz-Carlson ● Wendy Northcross ● Helen "Taffy" Nothnagle ●
Joanna O'Connell ● Laura Often ● Marie Oliva ● Flor Palacios ● Lesa Patrock ● Kim Pettingill-
Long ● Lynne Poyant ● Sue Prindle ● Sahana Purohit ● Ellen Quackenbush ● Patricia "Patti" Quigley
● Kathy Reardon ● Nicole Reilly ● Yaritza Rizzo ● Debra Roberts ● Stella Rogers ● Cheryl Rose ●
Jennifer Rose ● Noreen Rosher ● Patrice Rousseau ● Jacqueline Royce ● Laurel Ruma ● Jeri
Rumsis ● Debra Mann Schmill ● Linda Snow Dockser ● Lynn Strider ● Catherine Sugarman ● Joanne
Sullivan ● J. Cherry Sullivan ● Annette Szczygiel ● Lucy Tabit ● Teresa Tapper ● Carlie Tartakov ●
Marie Thibault ● Darlene Torre ● Graciela Trilla, Ed.D. ● Nicole Valentine ● Angela Varney ●
Christina Varney ● Martha Velez ● Tracye Whitfield ● Toni Wiley ● Jane Winn ● Donna
Wresinski ● Patricia Yebba ● MagalieYolanda Torres-Rowe ● Tena Zapantis ●
THE HEROINES
2020
Elizabeth Almeida has changed Westford’s Select Board in significant ways. Now the Chair, she has
transformed the culture to one of respectful discussion, thoughtful deliberation, and transparent and
inclusive decision making. When contentious issues are before the Select Board, Elizabeth carefully
listens to all sides and routinely encourages outside of the box solutions. As a business-owning
farmer, Elizabeth was determined to resurrect the defunct Agricultural Commission. She thoughtfully
led the Commission in redrafting their mission statement and in the creation of Westford’s Communi-
ty Gardens. Elizabeth has also recently started a “Women in Government” support and discussion
group. Elizabeth was also the first local candidate to be endorsed by the Massachusetts Women’s
Political Caucus (MWPC). Finally, Elizabeth was the initiator of the recently passed change in lan-
guage to our Town Charter to be gender-inclusive. Elizabeth’s passion for everyone to feel included
in Town Government is what makes her a Commonwealth Heroine.
Elizabeth Almeida, Westford
Recommended by
Rep. James Arciero
Anne Antonellis is a small-business owner, parent, wife, civic volunteer, and tireless advocate who
has led the Duxbury Business Association for nearly two decades. In 2004, Anne founded “Holly
Days” to showcase local businesses and inspire residents to shop local. The festive annual event
has grown to become a favorite town tradition. Anne also played an important role in establish-
ing the Alden House “Speak for Thyself Awards” honoring outspoken women on the South Shore.
Anne volunteers to assist many community organizations and the Duxbury schools. For several
years Anne volunteers her expertise in the real estate and mortgage field by participating in the
Duxbury High School Credit for Life Fair. In this role she provides guidance to students as they
determine the realistic costs it takes for students to live on their own. Anne is truly a heroine and Anne Antonellis, Duxbury
outstanding volunteer who enrich the lives of many in her community. Recommended by
Rep. Josh Cutler
Magdalena Ayed is Founder and Executive Director of The Harborkeepers, an East Boston-
based grassroots coastal resiliency organization. A multilingual native of Argentina who grew
up in NY and NJ with a Bachelor's from Montclair University in International Relations, Magdale-
na came to Boston in 2003 to work and raise a family. She very quickly discovered that Boston,
as a coastal city, experiences a dichotomy between socio-political economic progress and the
challenge to building equitable resiliency, which she believes will require shifting the resiliency
narrative and making systemic changes in climate resiliency-building, multi-sector collaboration
and developing more innovative models of stakeholder engagement. She brings her extensive
experience in community engagement, cross-sector partnership building skills and knowledge of
multi-cultural sensitivity to find points of collaboration between diverse stakeholders in order to
Magdalena Ayed, East Boston advance local, state and regional climate resiliency plans and as well as assure that environ-
Recommended by
mental policies work for more impacted communities, like East Boston.
Sen. Joseph Boncore
Fifteen years ago, Anne Bader-Martin, a court appointed attorney in the juvenile system,
sat in a Dunkin Donuts with a client, a 15 year old pregnant girl who was making a list of
needs. She was focused on a stroller. A man who heard them handed Anne a check and
said, “Buy her the stroller.” Anne realized that if she could explain the needs, people
would help. Shortly after, Anne gathered a group of court-appointed attorneys, social
workers, and friends and founded the nonprofit One Can Help, where Anne now serves as
Executive Director and Board President. One Can Help addresses the impact of poverty
on children by providing resources that make a difference. Privately raised funds are
used to pay for resources no one else provides. One Can Help has grown so it helps kids
Anne Bader-Martin, Newton involved in juvenile courts all over Massachusetts.
Recommended by
Rep. Ruth Balser
Marilou Barsam works tirelessly to ensure that every adult and child feel safe and welcomed
into the Bedford community. Marilou co-founded Bedford Embraces Diversity (BED) in March of
2014 in response to incidents of anti-Semitism in Bedford schools and has since served as the
group’s chair. BED’s first project was to create a “Diversity Quilt,” consisting of individual draw-
ings expressing how each artist interpreted diversity and respecting differences. BED is now a
non-profit organization and has organized three independent multicultural festivals, which have
since become a permanent fixture of the town’s Bedford Day. BED also sponsors an annual Mar-
tin Luther King, Jr. memorial breakfast, at which they invite black members of the community to
share their perspectives on the state of interracial relations in Bedford and beyond.
Marilou’s dedication to facilitating inclusion and celebrating diversity has made her an Marilou Barsam, Bedford
unsung heroine in the Bedford community. Recommended by
Rep. Kenneth Gordon
Those who know Anne Beauregard know her as a tireless advocate, passionate mentor, and
devoted friend, whose dedication and service to the City of Brockton is second to none.
During her two terms as Ward 5 City Councilor, Anne would make every effort to keep
informed, constantly reviewing materials and meeting with various city department heads-
and worked fervently to make sure residents were informed as well, going so far as to
print and hand deliver flyers. To list all of Anne’s service and volunteer service would fill
the contents of an Encyclopedia, but to name just a few she has served on the Real Estate
Sub-Committee, Traffic Commission, the boards of Brockton Community Schools and the
Adult Learning Center, is a volunteer with the Garden Club and Charity Guild, and runs the
Anne Beauregard, gift shop as well as countless programs for the library- never for personal gain but always
Brockton as a labor of love. She has been an incredible advocate for engaging women in local poli-
Recommended by tics and no one is more deserving of recognition.
Sen. Michael Brady
Cynthia studied Criminal Justice at Middlesex Community College and UMass Boston. Throughout
the entirety of her Boston Police career, Cynthia has been assigned to Area B3 where she has
been able to serve members of the community where she resides. Cynthia has spent more than 11
years with the B3 Community Service Office working with various community associations, church-
es, housing developments, seniors, youth groups, DYS facilities, and schools within the district. Cyn-
thia strives to improve relationships between families and the police. Every summer, Cynthia and
her colleagues engage 50+ youth in a six week Teen Police Academy program focused on self-
esteem, respect, discipline, and physical fitness. Cynthia engages regularly in youth and police
connections and dialogues. She enjoys working with youth from the numerous organizations in
District 3 and enjoys meeting monthly with over 30 community groups. Cynthia is also the mother Cynthia Beckford-
of Zaria, a student at Bridgewater State University. Brewington, Dorchester
Recommended by
Sen. Nick Collins
“Fluffy” Bergmann has been the director of the Mystic Learning Center at the Mystic Housing
Development for over 40 years. She grew up in the development, and has dedicated her life to
working with the children, teens and families in the development and the rest of Somerville. The
Center provides high quality year-round care for youth aged 5-13 (or 16 with special needs),
including after school programming, summer camp, vacation programs and more. It also runs a
summer camp, job training and employment program for low-income teens. There is a free drop
-in club for kids 8-14; Books of Hope, a paid fellowship for young authors; and a free summer
basketball program. Fluffy has been a member of the School Improvement Council at the Hea-
ley School, which serves the neighborhood. She has been an educator, a positive force and an
inspirational mentor for thousands of young people.
Florence “Fluffy”
Bergmann, North Billerica
Recommended by
Sen. Patricia Jehlen
Kathryn Bonfiglio is the President of Belmont Against Racism (BAR), a community-action, all-
volunteer organization focused on addressing issues of racism and prejudice. Kathryn has been
responsible for organizing many events around Belmont, including the annual Martin Luther
King Breakfast, which raises money for the transportation budget for METCO students so that
they can participate in more activities after school. BAR also runs events that are designed to
help parents talk to their children about race, advance restorative justice in the community, and
address income inequality. Kathryn says what brings her the most meaning is meeting inspiring
people and helping them have their voices heard, and connecting people to ideas on contem-
porary and controversial topics. She believes when we see our common humanity, we can move
Kathryn Bonfiglio, Belmont to a more just world. Kathryn also serves on the Belmont Human Rights Commission, a Beyond
Recommended by
Ferguson discussion group, and the Massachusetts Human Rights Coalition.
Rep. Dave Rogers
Gail Boutiette serves as the Outreach Coordinator for the Uxbridge Council on Aging. Every day
Gail is a beacon of happiness and positive energy for the seniors of Uxbridge. She is committed
to providing the best possible experience for those at the Senior Center by consistently working
on new programs, raising community awareness, and genuinely connecting with seniors. Gail ac-
tively works to meet the needs of seniors through educational opportunities and empowers elders
to maintain their quality of life. In addition to her work at the senior center, Gail is actively in-
volved in the town by supporting events like the Uxbridge First Holiday Night and various pa-
rades. Gail is a valuable asset to the Town of Uxbridge and serves as a role model to women
across the Commonwealth.
Gail Boutiette, Uxbridge
Recommended by
Rep. Michael Soter
Alyzandra (Ally) Brioso is truly a Commonwealth Heroine in the City of Brockton. She continu-
ally strives to better our city and genuinely cares about the residents. When she identifies a
gap in local activism, she is not afraid to create a new association or program to close it. Most
recently, Ally formed the Diverse Initiatives Neighborhood Association (DINA), which as its
mission statement notes, “strives to bridge the gap between all the diverse residents of Brock-
ton”. Ally does this in her everyday life, without hesitation. She hosts “Everyone Has a Voice”,
a poetry series at the Brockton Public Library. This program pairs student poets with seasoned
poets and fosters community discussion. Ally is an asset to our community and deserves to be
recognized!
Alyzandra Brioso Vizcaino,
Brockton
Recommended by
Rep. Gerard Cassidy
On March 30, 2015 Angela (15), Christina (14) and Mia (5) Varney lost their mom Anne Marie
to suicide. Through their grief and in honor of Annie’s 35 years on earth, they made 35 “Kindness
Blankets”. They gave these blankets to different people that may have been struggling in some
way, battling health setbacks, or just needing reassurance that they aren’t alone. Needless to
say their kindness and compassion became contagious. Together with the guidance of a team of
five amazing women (Barbara Buckley, Aubrianne Buckley, Maegan Perzentz, Lisa Palmer and
Maryann Hall) and an army of volunteers, Annie’s Kindness Blankets has since made and given
out over 7,500 blankets through donations of time and love. In a world in desperate need of
unity and kindness, these ladies define heroism in their efforts to touch the world with kindness
through everyone they meet.
Barbara Buckley, Middleboro
Recommended by
Rep. Alyson Sullivan
Scituate resident, Courtney Cahill, devotes her career and volunteer efforts to supporting survivors
of domestic violence. As Chief of the Domestic Violence Unit for Bristol County District Attorney
Thomas M. Quinn III's Office, Cahill oversees the prosecution of all domestic violence cases, and
coordinates high risk teams, community education, prevention and outreach programs. Cahill is
President of Employers Against Domestic Violence, a non-profit organization that educates busi-
nesses on the impact of domestic violence on the workplace and creates safer work environments.
Cahill's accomplishments include working for 11 years as Chief of the Special Victims Unit, Plym-
outh County District Attorney's Office. She also worked with the Northwestern District Attorney's
Office to host and train over 200 people on creating and enhancing high risk teams across the
Commonwealth. Courtney Cahill's unwavering care and dedication to supporting survivors is Courtney Cahill, Scituate
instrumental in enhancing the safety nets across the Commonwealth for those experiencing do- Recommended by
mestic violence. Rep. Patrick Kearney
Fighting hunger is no easy feat, but Peg Carbone of Stoughton is doing her best to eradicate
hunger one can of non-perishable food at a time. In 2011, Peg had noticed that the food
pantries in Stoughton were looking for help obtaining donations. True to her nature, Peg an-
swered the call to action, contributing her time and efforts to the cause. In December of that
year, she took out an ad in a local paper to announce that she would pick up food donations
and checks from residents who were unable to make their way to St. Anthony's Free Market.
As a result, the donations started to pour in. People were so moved and inspired by her self-
lessness that the number of volunteers at the pantry increased as well. For nearly a decade,
she has spent her Thursdays driving around in her own car to help feed those who are in
Peg Carbone, Stoughton need. Peg once said, “In this world of plenty, a child should not be going hungry.”
Recommended by
Sen. Walter Timilty
Amy Cardoso, a lifelong Woburnite, is a product of Woburn Public Schools and holds a Bachelor
of Arts in English from Salem State University and a Master of Education from UMass Boston. She
has been an English teacher at Woburn Memorial High School since 2011, working in a program
designated for students who have challenges in a mainstream setting and who need additional
support to successfully graduate from high school. She co-advises the WMHS Peer Mediation pro-
gram, comprised of a group of pupils who are trained professionally by a Mediator to help re-
solve student conflict within the school. She also co-advises WMHS embRACE, the club designed to
be a safe space and network of support for students of color, students who are immigrants, and
students who practice non-Christian religions. Amy speaks both Spanish and Portuguese and has
provided translation during parent meetings and various Woburn Public Schools (WPS) events to Amy Cardoso, South
disseminate important school and community-related information to non-English speaking families. Yarmouth
Recommended by
Rep. Michelle CiccoloDeb Cary is a tireless advocate for the environment. Whether it is education, awareness, con-
servation, preservation or open space - she truly cares about improving the quality of life for
our MA residents. She also strives to teach our youth the importance of environmental issues,
conservation and recreation. Deb puts 110% into everything she does. In addition to her
work with Mass Audubon, she volunteers on countless boards and commissions, both in her
hometown of Princeton and for the state. It is a pleasure working with Deb and seeing the
impact of her hard work and dedication today, and for generations to come.
Deb Cary, Princeton
Recommended by
Rep. Kimberly Ferguson
Tiffony Cesero is a fierce advocate for children and families. She has organized fundraising
events like Touch-A-Truck, and plays key roles at others like Spin-A-Thon, to help raise over
$100,000 to assist children and families. She leads a YMCA committee focused on making summer
camp, water safety, and educational programs accessible to all. Tiffony is a champion of educa-
tion and reducing summer learning loss, while consistently looking for ways to create equity and
opportunity for every child in Plymouth. Additionally, she has tirelessly served the Plymouth com-
munity as Board Chair of the Old Colony YMCA Plymouth Branch, is a board member of the Sal-
vation Army, and is a longtime Sunrise Rotarian where she currently serves as Treasurer. All while
making weekly deliveries for Meals on Wheels. A true heroine, Tiffony gives her time and talent in
a multitude of volunteer roles simply because she wants to make her community stronger.
Tiffony Cesero, Plymouth
Recommended by
Rep. Matthew Muratore
Chrissy Chamberland has been a volunteer in the Boy Scout organization for 23 years, having
attended numerous scout functions with her father, who is still a leader in Boy Scouts. Chrissy
started one of the first all Girls Troops in the Boy Scouts in Massachusetts and one of only two to
attend the 2019 World Scout Jamboree. Troop 163 started a year ago and in addition to be-
ing an all girls troop it is also an all-inclusive troop welcoming all regardless of orientation. As
the Scout leader, Chrissy is breaking new ground and helping young women to thrive and suc-
ceed. In addition, Chrissy coordinates numerous events in Sturbridge including a free holiday
tree recycling program and answers every call for activism and assistance to others.
Christine Chamberland, Sturbridge
Recommended by
Sen. Anne Gobi
Sophor Chhour has worked at the Lynn Community Health Center for over 25 years as a licensed
mental health counselor and runs the Rainbow Adult Day Health Care Bayon Center in Lynn, MA.
She also owns the Lynn Primary Care Center, which provides primary medical care and behav-
ioral services to local Cambodian community members. As a Cambodian refugee who escaped
the Khmer Rouge in the late 1970s, Chhour came to the U.S. in 1981. Drawing strength from the
trauma she experienced as a survivor of the Killing Fields, she was inspired to pursue mental
health counseling as a career and in 1997, she graduated from Cambridge College with a Mas-
ters in counseling. Teaching, training, and giving back to her patients is her greatest passion. She
is inspired to help other Cambodians in the U.S. share their experiences, and give a voice to
survivors of all types of trauma.
Sophor Chhour, Lynnfield
Recommended by
Sen. Brendan CrightonAs a lifelong East Boston resident, Nina serves as the Director of the East Boston High School
Family Center, where she empowers and mentors families through a range of circumstances.
In addition to ensuring youth have access to fundamental resources through her role as Key
Club advisor, she encourages them to volunteer in a variety of activities, including the com-
munity's annual Thanksgiving Day Dinner and Eastie's Elves, the largest holiday toy drive in
our area. Nina is an ardent advocate for improvements to our public schools. She has con-
tributed to numerous community efforts, including the Kiwanis Club, the Impact Advisory
Group (IAG) for a major development in our neighborhood, and the Edwards Empowerment
Fund. She has modeled a love of service to her community for her fellow East Boston resi-
dents, instilling in them a strong commitment to civic duty.
Nanina Gaeta Coletta,
East Boston
Recommended by
Rep. Adrian Madaro
For founding The Peacemakers “Music with a Message” program at Johnson Elementary School in
Natick Massachusetts. The Peacemakers was incepted in 1997 as a way to improve academic
and social learning outcomes and to give each student an opportunity to be part of something and
understand that "every voice counts". The Peacemakers is comprised of Johnson School third and
fourth grade students. While primarily musical in nature, the learning and collaborative undertak-
ings that students experience stretch far beyond song and lend to rich connections to classroom
learning and self. Essential learning around human differences, self-esteem and empowerment,
community building, patriotism, character and citizenship and social justice permeate the Peace-
maker experience.
Rhonda Garvin Conaway, Natick
Recommended by
Rep. David Linsky
Deanna and Mya Cook were served multiple detentions and were threatened
with suspension from their High School because their hairstyle violated school
dress code. The girls were forced to sit in detention before and after school.
They have been kicked out of after-school sports and banned from the prom.
Because of their fight, they were successful in the school's decision to change
their policy. They deserve this recognition because they went against something
they felt was an injustice and they garnered community support. They are confi-
dent young women who used a spotlight in a way that will allow them to contin-
ue to be leaders. They have be an inspiration to people of all ages that face
Mya Cook, Malden discrimination in schools and in the workplace due to the style of their hair. Their
Deanna Cook, Malden
Recommended by actions have helped lead to a better understanding of ethnic hairstyles and a
Recommended by
Rep. Steven Ultrino national movement to help pass the Crown Act. Rep. Steven UltrinoI enthusiastically recommend Ms. Francine Coughlin to represent her community of North Reading
as a 2020 Commonwealth Heroine. Ms. Coughlin served as the President of the Reading-North
Reading Chamber of Commerce in 2019. Currently, she is the Founder and President of Rock n’
Rescue, a non- profit dog rescue organization, and also serves as Vice Chairperson of the North
Reading Historical Commission. Her commitment to the continual improvement of the Town of North
Reading is truly commendable. Through her combination of enthusiasm, creativity, commitment to
community, and hard work, I am certain Ms. Francine Coughlin exemplifies the kind of Common-
wealth Heroine that MCSW seeks to recognize.
Francine Coughlin, North Reading
Recommended by
Rep. Bradley Jones
Tracey is the Executive Director of Falmouth VIPS, Volunteers in Public Schools, a program that
provides schools with organized and engaged volunteers who enrich the curriculum and the
lives of the students they serve. Tracey serves as the liaison between the community and the
public school system. She helps to promote and coordinate programs such as “No Guff Week,”
in which students pledge not to speak or text anything negative about others for a week. In
addition, she helps with weekend food bags that provide children with food that are at risk of
going hungry over the weekend. Under her leadership, VIPS has logged over one million volun-
teer hours since its inception in 1983. Tracey’s efforts have transformed the lives of countless
students and volunteers and have built a stronger, more vibrant community in Falmouth. She is a
Commonwealth Heroine who epitomizes service above self.
Tracey Crago, Falmouth
Recommended by
Rep. Dylan Fernandes
For founding The Peacemakers “Music with a Message” program at Johnson Elementary School
in Natick Massachusetts. The Peacemakers was incepted in 1997 as a way to improve academ-
ic and social learning outcomes and to give each student an opportunity to be part of something
and understand that "every voice counts". The Peacemakers is comprised of Johnson School
third and fourth grade students. While primarily musical in nature, the learning and collabora-
tive undertakings that students experience stretch far beyond song and lend to rich connections
to classroom learning and self. Essential learning around human differences, self-esteem and
empowerment, community building, patriotism, character and citizenship and social
justice permeate the Peacemaker experience.
Jennifer Marini D’Antonio, Natick
Recommended by
Rep. David Linsky
Charan is a musician, but perhaps her highest art is that of bringing our community together.
Charan Devereaux’s 2015-2017 Union Square Playlist explored the music and history of the
city of Somerville, through concerts, lectures, discussions, and an accompanying CD, the pro-
ceeds of which benefited the local recording artists and the Somerville Museum. Her 2019-
2020 Faith in a City: Exploring Religion in Somerville, Massachusetts, project explored the be-
liefs, ceremonies and places of worship of 20 local religious groups through music, photog-
raphy, interviews, video and history as a way of better understanding the City. Devereaux’s
wide-ranging projects have had an enthusiastic community-wide response. Crowds have gath-
ered at a local microbrewery to hear about how Somerville’s economic development has relied
on its waves of immigrants. All who participate in these “community based projects" have come
Charan Devereaux, Somerville
Recommended by
away with a deepened understanding and appreciation for the place we share, and have
Rep. Denise Provost probably made a few new friends.Liz DiCarlo has worked on multiple fronts over the past forty years throughout greater New Bed-
ford and Cape Cod and the Islands. She is driven by her belief that every person should be
treated with dignity and respect. Whether it was the war on the people of Central America, the
devastation from the twin epidemics of HIV/AIDS, the reality that all marginalized and under-
served people don’t have access to affordable housing, health care and dental services, or the
discrimination faced by LGBTQ people and immigrants, Liz worked and works passionately on
the front lines ensuring that government and non-profit agencies were and are accountable to the
people’s needs. As a registered nurse and community organizer for over fifty years before her
retirement, she is now volunteering in New Bedford to increase voter/census awareness and civic
engagement as well as lobbying to pass the End of Life Options bill in Massachusetts.
Liz DiCarlo, Mattapoisett
Recommended by
Rep. Antonio Cabral
Lotte Diomede served on the Commission on Disability and raised tens of thousands of dollars for
Children’s Hospital. Learning to care for her son, she decided to take actions that would enhance
the lives of disabled children throughout the Commonwealth. Lotte and Susan Brown co-founded
“SMILE MASS” which enabled creation of universally accessible playgrounds in Sudbury, Boston,
Hudson, and Acton and a fully handicapped accessible rental home on Cape Cod. SMILE donat-
ed 140 beach wheelchairs to allow children and young adults to experience the joy of movement
across the sand and through the water. When Houston flooded because of a hurricane, Lotte
gathered and dispatched two truckloads of medical supplies, diapers, and wheelchairs to Texas
aiding thirty young adults. After Puerto Rico was damaged by the hurricane, Lotte’s
team gathered and delivered nine truckloads of food, water and later delivering Christ-
Lotte Diomede, Sudbury
mas gifts to residents in neighboring towns.
Recommended by
Rep. Carmine Gentile
Donna DiVirgilio has dedicated her life to serving the youth of Stoneham. As a fixture at the
Boys & Girls Clubs, she has implemented innovative programming, quietly provided emergency
assistance to families in need and has been a steadying and positive influence in the lives of gen-
erations of children. Donna’s service and impact, however, goes well beyond our community’s
youth. When the recession hit Stoneham particularly hard through programming and service cuts,
Donna filled the void. She worked relentlessly to help restore recreational programs for seniors
and the community at large; helped save the public swimming pool from closing; and is an ever-
present and legitimizing force at traditional community events. Donna has also been instrumental
in keeping the town’s annual Martin Luther King Jr. program running for more than 20 years and
Donna DiVirgilio, Stoneham has been steadfast in her commitment to making our community more inclusive for all of our resi-
Recommended by dents.
Rep. Michael Day
Paula has been a tremendous advocate for our senior citizens. She's been a great lead-
er who has developed and expanded programs including health care, technology and
education. She has been very supportive of our seniors. Additionally, she continues to be
a strong advocate and is leading the charge for a much needed new senior center in
Wilbraham.
Paula Dubord, Wilbraham
Recommended by
Rep. Angelo Puppolo Jr.Michelle Dunn is the truest example of a Commonwealth Heroine. Dedicated to fighting opioid
addiction and giving those fighting substance abuse a second chance, Michelle opened the A.E.D
Foundation in memory of her daughter, who lost her fight with addiction and inspired Michelle's
life work. A.E.D is a community peer recovery and resource center, dedicated to helping those
struggling with addiction. Established in 2014, Michelle used the foundation to assist patients
and their families with their struggles. Michelle also helped to establish the Gardner Chapter of
the Learn to Cope, as well as Alyssa's Place, founded in 2015. Michelle took the greatest loss a
person could face, and made it so that Alyssa's loss was not in vain, and helped those fighting
the same battle.
Michelle Dunn, Gardner
Recommended by
Sen. Dean Tran
Andrea Egmont, director of Youth Services for the City of Newburyport, has been with New-
buryport Youth Services since its inception in 2005. Her background is in youth and human de-
velopment, substance use prevention and asset building. She is passionate about empowering
young people and helping them find their voice, whether it is to advocate for themselves or
their community. She is richly deserving of this honor.
Andrea Egmont, Amesbury
Recommended by
Sen. Diana DiZoglio
Marie Enochty is a longtime Brewster resident and has been an employee of the Boston Public
Schools (BPS) for nearly a decade, where she trains and coaches teachers and principals in
early education. Marie has spent over 40 years of her life in education. Prior to her time at
BPS, Marie worked for Cape Cod Children's Place. She served for ten years as the Brewster
representative to the Nauset Regional School Committee and has served for over twenty years
as a member of the Brewster School Committee. Marie has served as a board member for the
Massachusetts Association for the Education of Young Children, Native American Early Child-
hood Council at the Boston Children’s Museum, Latham Centers, and the Cape Cod Collabora-
tive. Marie has been a vocal leader in her community for funding education and combating
racism in every aspect of life. She earned a B.A. in art education from Pratt Institute and an Marie Enochty, Brewster
M.S. in education from Bank Street College of Education. Recommended by
Sen. Julian Cyr
Marilyn is extremely dedicated to ensuring that the future generation of our communities is
growing to their full potential. Her dedicated time as an educator in our community has
been a blessing to so many students, faculty and staff members that interact with her on a
daily basis.
Marilyn Fitzgerald, Andover
Recommended by
Rep. Frank MoranEstelle has been a dedicated Veteran's Service Agent in the town of Norton for many years. She is
dedicated to her work and has helped numerous veterans in the district. When accepting the rec-
ommendation for the Commonwealth Heroine award, Estelle shared “The program insert, the Mean-
ing of the YELLOW ROSE, is a perfect inclusion to the program, we sometimes forget the fight oth-
ers had to have women recognized.”
Estelle Flett, Norton
Recommended by
Rep. Steven Howitt
Kathy Flynn was born and raised in Fitchburg and attended the St Bernard's Schools for 12
years. She went on to get her Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Fitchburg State
University and Master of Education from Lesley University. She became a beloved first grade
teacher in the Fitchburg Public Schools for more than 35 years. She gave many years as a
member of the board of directors for the Fitchburg Historical Society. During this time, she be-
came the major curator for all of the Society's exhibitions and played a major role in the Annu-
al Historical Society House Tour. Kathy is also an adjunct professor at FSU as part of the Alpha
Program. This is a community/university-based program for adults looking for a variety of
broad based educational experiences. She is currently curating the art gallery for the rebirth
of the new/old Fitchburg City Hall. Kathy is a loving Aunt to her many nieces and nephews and
is widely respected and admired by her family and many, many friends.
Kathleen Flynn, Lunenburg
Recommended by
Rep. Stephan Hay
From her early years, Alexis found that she had a passion for working with the special needs com-
munity. Employed as a Special Education Teacher in the Milford Public Schools since 2012, she has
many responsibilities such as implementing integrated units of study, structuring curriculum for stu-
dent success and developing programs for individual students. Since 2014, Alexis has served as
the Best Buddies Adviser, managing over 200 students in various activities and events that allow
students with intellectual disabilities to participate in an inclusive event and showcase their skills.
Alexis also has served since 2011 as a coach of the Special Olympics Swim and Soccer Team. She
works with over 40 swimmers to determine ability, designs a swimming plan and helps them grow
in additional areas. She was chosen as one of the USA Games coaches for the 2018 Special
Olympics Team Massachusetts at the USA Games in Seattle, Washington.
Alexis Forgit, Milford
Recommended by
Rep. Brian Murray
Kristen Forsberg, MPA & MCPPO leads as Assistant to the Town Manager of Leicester and a
crucial member of the community. A graduate of Middlebury College, she has more than a
decade of experience, currently managing a town of approximately 11,000 residents manag-
ing a $30 million town budget. Forsberg is impactful in her role, most recently hosting a recent
Joint Cannabis Policy Hearing at Leicester Public Library with short notice, convening stake-
holders for infrastructure issues, and in crucial moments managing town politics and people
while gracefully balancing her public administration role. She actively seeks professional edu-
cation and better practices for her field, an investment not only for herself, but also for the
public good that should be celebrated. She is the next generation of Town Managers com-
ing up in her field; she will undoubtedly reach her goals to become a Town Manager in Kristen Forsberg, Rochdale
Massachusetts. Recommended by
Rep. David LeBoeufI am pleased to recognize Julie Gage, the current Executive Director of the James L.
McKeown Boys & Girls Club of Woburn, as a Massachusetts Commission of the Status of
Women Commonwealth Heroine. Julie truly lives the mission of the Club each day by in-
spiring youth to find their greatness. Her commitment to the Woburn community at-large
and her devotion to providing a safe place for kids are worthy of this special honor. Julie
has been with the Club since 2004 and has served as both the Arts & Education Director
and the Director of Program Development prior to becoming the Executive Director. No-
tably she helped lead the club during its 9.5-million-dollar renovation and expansion
project. Julie is a graduate of Bates College and in 2014 she completed the Institute for
Nonprofit Management and Leadership program at Boston University. Her Club pro- Julie Gage, Somerville
grams have been honored for excellence nationally. Recommended by
Rep. Richard Haggerty
Catherine "Cathy" Gaudet is the Nurse Leader for the Leominster Public Schools and a Clinical
Nursing Instructor at Mount Wachusett Community College. A graduate of Fitchburg State Uni-
versity and Walden University, Cathy worked for HealthAlliance Leominster Hospital prior to
joining Leominster Public Schools. Cathy also gives back to the community in so many ways,
including as a member of the Leominster Lions Club and leading the National Alliance on Men-
tal Illness (NAMI) of North Central Massachusetts. Cathy’s commitment to ending the stigma and
breaking down barriers to mental health care continues to make Leominster a brighter commu-
nity.
Catherine Gaudet, Leominster
Recommended by
Rep. Natalie Higgins
Maureen Geary has long been a key player in Quincy's continued ascent to a major regional
economic driver. As the city's Director of Economic Development, she has been instrumental in culti-
vating Quincy's reputation as a business-friendly city, working tirelessly to ensure that the city's
business district areas and commercial corridors are sustainable, vibrant places. Working closely
with Mayor Koch, Maureen has spearheaded a number of initiatives that have brought commerce
and growth to Quincy. She has led the charge to revitalize Squantum Point Pier and continues to
go above and beyond to realize the ultimate goal of a full-time dedicated ferry service from
Quincy into Boston. Through all of her efforts, Maureen prefers to be firmly out of the limelight,
focused solely on moving the city forward. For her unparalleled dedication, her admirable Maureen Geary, Quincy
passion, and her irreplaceable leadership, I'm proud to nominate Maureen Geary as a 2020 Recommended by
Commonwealth Heroine. Rep. Bruce Ayers
Marge Ghilarducci may have retired from the successful Marge Ghilarducci Agency Inc. in
2002, but she has remained extremely busy. Marge volunteers in many ways, mentoring stu-
dents at the Somerset Berkley Regional High School for DECA competitions and supporting the
arts in the local schools. She has also volunteered her time as Secretary of the Berkley Historical
Commission where she has helped obtain many grants to support the quality of life in her
hometown. She spearheaded the creation of Berkley Bridge Village Heritage Park that pro-
vides access for all abilities to take part in outdoor recreation. Now that her first park has been
completed, she is focusing her efforts on making major improvements to another park, St. Yves
Park, where she hopes to provide improved ball fields, trails, and equipment.
Marge Ghilarducci, Berkley
Recommended by
Rep. Norman OrrallJackie Gillis is known as the “Queen of Green,” for her work helping Hudson and its resi-
dents become more environmentally friendly. A retired scientist and longtime volunteer,
Jackie is currently Hudson’s Volunteer Recycling Coordinator. She recently served on the
Hudson Recycling Sustainability Committee, which examined the viability of curbside
recycling and trash pickup. She represents this committee and Green Hudson at communi-
ty events and school programs to educate and raise recycling awareness. Jackie also
volunteers at Fresh Start Furniture Bank (FSFB) where she started their recycling program,
trained volunteers, and hunts for items that FSFB can use to assist clients. She spearhead-
ed the Textile recycling container program in Hudson to reduce these materials in land-
Jacqueline Gillis, Hudson fills; proceeds benefit Hudson schools and FSFB. In season, Jackie has worked with local
Recommended by organizations to move excess crops from farmers to food pantries and soup kitchens.
Rep. Kate Hogan Thank you Jackie!
In the last three decades, Eileen Giordano has worked tirelessly serving the community in
the Merrimack Valley. A retiree from the Elder Services of the Merrimack Valley, and co-
founder and Vice President of Foster Kids of the Merrimack Valley, Eileen has done it all:
from managing volunteers, helping to run an organization, and acting as a planner, ca-
terer, and fundraiser for events. Foster Kids of the Merrimack Valley provides a number
of services to help hundreds of foster children in the Greater Haverhill, Lawrence, Me-
thuen, Andover, and North Andover area. Eileen’s care for her community and the impact
that she has had on the children she serves make her a true Commonwealth Heroine.
Eileen Giordano, Methuen
Recommended by
Rep. Linda Dean Campbell
In 2015, when Substance Use Disorder made its way into her family, Laurie began her work
with opioid recovery. After her experience in attempting to navigate the treatment system with
her son, it became her mission to repair breakdowns in the system by addressing these issues
from the perspective of those who utilize these services. In 2017, Laurie joined with others who
shared her experiences, and created Recover Fall River, whose goals, strategies and programs
continue to be shaped by the consumer. Recover Fall River planned and executed Fall River’s
first ever Overdose Awareness Day Vigil, which is now held annually and attended by hun-
dreds of community members who cherish the opportunity to remember lost loved ones with
dignity and respect. Recover Fall River operates a monthly Help Center which provides barrier-
Laurie Godwin, Fall River free access to treatment, and are working on an anti-stigma campaign for medical profession-
Recommended by als who treat individuals with Substance Use Disorder.
Rep. Carole Fiola
Dr. Sara Hamerla has dedicated her life to children both personally and professionally. As a
teacher and K-12 administrator, she has been able to work in a variety of instructional pro-
grams including: Spanish transitional bilingual, Portuguese transitional bilingual, Spanish dual
immersion, and sheltered English. Sara co-authored “The K-3 Guide to Academic Conversa-
tions” and is a thought leader in the K-12 academic space. As a mother who has fostered
over 20 children with her husband Perry, Sara is incredibly active in her biological, adopted,
and foster children’s lives, including leading a Girl Scout troop. Sara is the kind of person that
asks people to bring bilingual books for the Framingham Public Schools to her birthday party
and continues to grow her engagement in our community. We are extremely fortunate to
have a wonderful woman like Sara here in Framingham.
Sara Hamerla, Framingham
Recommended by
Rep. Maria RobinsonDuring the early stages of the opioid epidemic, Kristin Harrison recognized a need to edu-
cate local communities about the realities of substance use, especially among our youth. In
a true grassroots effort, Kristin quickly engaged Easton’s schools, Easton Police Department,
Easton Fire Department, elected officials, the Board of Health, local businesses, pharmacies,
and community residents. The organization has received several grants and awards for
their work. Kristin has worked with Easton to institute a policy that allows her to collaborate
with first responders and provide follow-up to families that have had a family member
overdose. Over 5 years later, Easton Wings of Hope is recognized as the official youth
substance use prevention coalition in Easton. The coalition's mission is to prevent youth sub-
stance use through education, awareness, and policy change. EWoH envisions a healthy
Easton where healthy choices are recognized, valued, and accessible to all.
Kristin Harrison, North Easton
Recommended by
Rep. Claire Cronin
Emily has been dealing with a rare disease since 2012. During this time, she has spent days
and sometimes months in and out of the hospital, which caused her to miss much of her high
school days, yet she managed to graduate on time with honors. Even during the most difficult
times, Emily persevered with a smile on her face and never let her future plans of becoming a
nurse take a back seat. Upon high school graduation, she attended college and even while
hospitalized many times, continued to study for her nursing boards which she ultimately passed
in December. In an effort to encourage research funding for rare diseases and offer support
to others, she volunteered to speak at Rare Disease Day in Boston. Emily is truly a Common-
wealth Heroine as she continues to pursue her dream during the most difficult times and en-
courages others to never give up.
Emily Hedspeth, Monson
Recommended by
Rep. Brian Ashe
Sue-Ellen Hershman-Tcherepnin has led efforts in Watertown to increase awareness of chal-
lenges faced by our immigrant and refugee neighbors and to build trust between immigrants
and the police. She is convener of the Watertown Citizens Refugee Support Group (a work-
ing group of Watertown Citizens for Peace, Justice & the Environment) , which engages in
vigils, cultural celebrations, clothing drives, legislative efforts, film festivals and direct support
of Massachusetts refugee families in need. Most recently the group initiated a community-
wide effort entitled “Watertown Celebrates Iftar,” at which local Muslims and non-Muslims
share Ramadan fast-breaking and engage in interfaith dialogue. Professionally, Sue-Ellen is
a flutist who has performed with symphonies around the world and teaches at MIT.
Sue-Ellen Hershman-Tcherepnin, Watertown
Recommended by
Rep. Jonathan Hecht
Michaela Gagne Hetzler is currently in her tenth year serving as a Licensed Mental Health
Counselor and School Adjustment Counselor at the high school level in Fall River. Her advo-
cacy for Social Emotional Learning has led her to speak to diverse audiences regarding the
importance of supporting youth mental health. Michaela serves as the community’s Youth
Violence Prevention Coordinator and assists in organizing various events, including the Police
and Public Palooza, Peace by Piece Summit, Fall River Youth & Candidate Night, and the
Fall River Youth & Family Fest. Michaela sits on many committees, while also co-chairing the
Fall River Suicide Prevention Task Force and Fall River Youth Empowerment Task Force. She
enjoys coaching soccer locally, and previous volunteer work includes traveling the country
Michelle Gagne Hetzler, Fall River as a national spokesperson for the American Heart Association and assisting to set
Recommended by up a medical clinic in the Bukoba region of Tanzania.
Rep. Alan SilvaJoanne has volunteered as a member and Chair of the Winthrop Cultural Council for almost 30
years. In that capacity Joanne has been an advocate for artists and the arts in Winthrop. Be-
cause of Joanne’s insistence and persistence, the gallery was completed with gallery-quality
paint and proper lighting (a fluorescent light fight she found herself embroiled in). I admire Jo-
anne’s ability to put up with a lot of flak and her ability to keep focused on the goal of provid-
ing a gallery for local artists that is respected throughout the region for its high quality exhibi-
tions. In addition to her background as a photographer, Joanne also has an avid interest in local
history. She is a tour guide with “Boston by Foot” where she leads walking tours of Boston’s
Freedom Trail. Volunteers with that organization must pass a rigorous test of local history be-
fore becoming certified as an official tour guide. Joanne was also a member of the (now de-
Joanne Hillman, Winthrop
Recommended by
funct) Winthrop Community Chorus. Joanne grew up in Saugus. She met her husband Guy Hill-
Speaker Robert DeLeo man in Photography School. They are the parents of Anna who is a teacher in Salem, MA and
are the very proud grandparents of 16-month old Delilah.
Cheryl Holbert Millard has been active in the Peabody community for over 40 years. Cheryl began
her civic involvement as co-president of the Center Elementary School PTO. She served diligently as
the Title I representative for the school while volunteering at St. John’s Church and coaching youth
sports. Cheryl has been a longtime board of management member for the Sutton Residence for
Women in downtown Peabody, and an appointed member of Peabody’s Historical Commission. She
is a passionate member of the Garden Club and the No Child Goes Hungry campaign in Peabody,
and served as Chair of the Alex Vitale Memorial Park Committee. Cheryl’s selflessness has brought
much success to these organizations, but she is most well known as Peabody’s unofficial photogra-
pher. She has lent her photographic talents to well over a hundred Peabody events and spends
hours publishing photos on social media for no charge. Her efforts have been vital to
downtown Peabody’s economic revitalization. Cheryl Holbert Millard is the epitome of
what we call Peabody Pride. Cheryl Holbert Millard, Peabody
Recommended by
Sen. Joan Lovely
Dee Holt is a fixture at all Winchendon gatherings, celebrations, and events. She is Presi-
dent of the Winchendon Lions Club. Dee is involved with the Winchendon Backpack Pro-
gram and is also an active member of the Winchendon American Legion Auxiliary Unit
193. In addition, she volunteers her time for her church, the Immaculate Heart of Mary
Parish. Dee always has a smile on her face and gives 100% of her effort towards any-
thing she is involved with. She is reliable and willing to lend a hand to anyone. Dee
makes the Town of Winchendon a better place to live in. She lives with her husband and
two daughters.
Deirdre Holt, Winchendon
Recommended by
Rep. Jonathan Zlotnik
Beth Huang is the Director of the Massachusetts Voter Table, a statewide coalition of grass-
roots organizations that uses integrated voter engagement to expand civic access, participa-
tion, and representation of communities of color. She convenes MassCounts to prepare the
grassroots organizations for the 2020 Census, is a member of the Steering Committee of the
economic justice coalition Raise Up Massachusetts, and advocates for increased civic access
and voting rights as part of the Election Modernization Coalition. Prior to joining MVT in
2016, Beth worked in the labor and student movements for six years, first as a union organ-
izer at the American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees and then as the
Student Labor Action Project Coordinator at Jobs With Justice and the U.S. Student Associa-
tion. Beth is a senior trainer with the Midwest Academy, a national training center for
community organizers. She started organizing in Wisconsin in 2008 and holds a B.S. from Beth Huang, Cambridge
the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Recommended by
Rep. Mike ConnollySachiko Isihara was born in Cheverly, Maryland, but her family moved to New York City and
then to Buffalo. She completed her Bachelors in Piano Performance at New England Conservato-
ry and a Masters in Piano Performance at Juilliard. She has been a member of SAA since 1984.
Her Suzuki training includes being a Kenkyusei in Matsumoto in 1993 and a long term appren-
ticeship with Colette Daltier in France. Sachiko has completed European Suzuki Level 5. In 2008,
she became a SAA Suzuki Piano Teacher Trainer. Sachiko has been the Director of Suzuki School
of Newton since 1998, and in 2009 became the Director of Suzuki By the Green Piano Institute
held in Newton, MA.
Sachiko Ishihara, West Newton
Recommended by
Rep. Kay Khan
For over 37 years, Ms. Cynthia A. Johnson remains an active and involved community activ-
ist. Her heart is as large as her creative mind, and her passion for supporting families
grows stronger each day. In 1983, Cynthia joined the local tenant task force called Arch-
dale Tenants on the Move, Inc. (ATOM), a nonprofit organization, formed by a group of
single mothers living in the Boston Housing Authority’s Archdale Family Housing Develop-
ment. Cynthia continues to advocate for the residents of Archdale as a board member -
and today - as the Administrative Coordinator of the Center. It's Cynthia’s vision, leader-
ship and steady hand, in no small part, that keeps the Archdale community connected and
strong. From supporting new, innovative programming and events to providing a stable
and safe gathering place for young people and their families, Cynthia is certainly a Com-
monwealth Heroine to appreciate and celebrate!
Cynthia A. Johnson, Hyde Park
Recommended by
Rep. Elizabeth Malia
Maureen Johnson is an integral part of the Westborough community. Through her extensive
volunteer work, she has found a way to support nearly all of the pillars that make a communi-
ty strong. Whether as President of the Westborough Education Foundation, Chair of the Annu-
al Trivia Bee, Co-chair of the Turkey Trot, or Maureen’s service on the Superintendent’s Advi-
sory Committee and the High School Guidance Advisory Committee, her impact on our public
schools is profound. Maureen champions the effort to renovate and expand our cherished
public library as Co-President of the Library Foundation and she helped launch the newly
formed Police Foundation. As Treasurer of the Westborough Cultural Council, Maureen works
hard to ensure that our community has a robust offering of local cultural events
and that we celebrate the arts during the annual Arts in Common festival. Maureen Johnson, Westborough
Maureen is everywhere and Westborough is fortunate to have her!
Recommended by
Rep. Hannah Kane
Alyssa Jones is a consultant advancing graphic design and user experience design through her
company Cooking with Gas Studio. In addition to her success in business and the creative econ-
omy, Alyssa is a champion for LGBTQ civil rights. Alyssa for the last 10 years has provided
distinguished service and relentless advocacy through her work with the Human Rights Cam-
paign at both the national and regional level. Alyssa is currently a board member for the Hu-
man Rights Campaign and serves as the Governor representing the Boston/New England re-
gion. In addition to her statewide and national advocacy, Alyssa serves on the Salem for All
Ages Task Force and is a founding member of the Salem Arts Association.
Alyssa Jones, Salem
Recommended by
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